Kepler-971 b
Kepler-971 b is a mini-Neptune orbiting Kepler-971 in the constellation Lyra. It lies about 1,104 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2016 using the transit method.
How Big Is Kepler-971 b?
Kepler-971 b has a radius of 2.13 times that of Earth.
Is Kepler-971 b in the Habitable Zone?
The position of Kepler-971 b relative to the habitable zone of Kepler-971 cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of Kepler-971: 0.575–1.369 AU (conservative: 0.728–1.298 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
See the full interactive habitable-zone view in the Exoplanet Explorer app ›
Orbit and Year Length
A year on Kepler-971 b — one full orbit around Kepler-971 — lasts 9.59 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was Kepler-971 b Discovered?
Kepler-971 b was discovered in 2016 using the transit method, with observations from Kepler.
The transit method watches a star for the tiny, regular dip in brightness that occurs when a planet crosses in front of it. The depth and timing of these dips reveal the planet's size and orbital period.
How Far Away Is Kepler-971 b?
Kepler-971 b is 1,104.1 light-years (338.5 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet about 1,104 years ago. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 19,432,160 years to make the journey.
Earth Similarity Index
The Earth Similarity Index (ESI) scores how physically similar a planet is to Earth, from 0 to 1, based on radius, density, escape velocity and surface temperature. Kepler-971 b scores 0.27, ranking #2,713 of 5,568 planets with a known ESI. For reference, Mars scores about 0.70.
The Host Star: Kepler-971
Kepler-971
- Surface temperature
- 5,431 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.88 M☉
- Radius
- 0.85 R☉
- Age
- 4.5 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
Planetary System
Kepler-971 b is the only planet known to orbit Kepler-971 so far.
Kepler-971 b — Complete Data
| Radius | 2.130 Earth radii (0.190 Jupiter radii) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 9.59 days |
| Earth Similarity Index | 0.27 |
| Distance from Earth | 1,104.1 light-years (338.5 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Discovery method | Transit |
| Discovery facility | Kepler |
| Discovery year | 2016 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2016-05-06. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kepler-971 b
Is Kepler-971 b habitable?
Kepler-971 b is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of Kepler-971, and as a mini-Neptune it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is Kepler-971 b?
Kepler-971 b is about 1,104 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 19,432,160 years to get there.
How big is Kepler-971 b compared to Earth?
Kepler-971 b has 2.13 times the radius of Earth.
How long is a year on Kepler-971 b?
One orbit around Kepler-971 takes 9.6 Earth days — short enough that 38 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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